Federal Security Clearances Drop 9 Percent Since 2011
The number of new security clearances provided by the federal government, including renewals, has decreased by 9 percent since 2011, according to a new report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The number of approved clearances dropped for the second consecutive year in FY2013, to just more than 777,000. The ODNI attributed the trend to the enforcement of a Clinton administration executive order, but one expert said this marked a natural reverse flow after the number of individuals with security clearances had ballooned prior to 2011, Government Executive reports.